Archives For
Will Anderson

In episode number four of “2 Slices & A Story,” Parachute lead singer Will Anderson explained how he and two of his three siblings ended up in New York after growing up in Virginia, and what his first gig in the city was like.

In the time between Parachute releasing its third and fourth albums, the band shrunk from a quintet to a trio. And the fact of the matter is, a lot can happen in two-and-a-half years.

“They got married and had kids,” lead singer Will Anderson responded when I asked what happened to former members Alex Hargrave and Nate McFarland. “It’s been a bit of a transition but it was just time, and the three of us have been friends since high school so we were obviously going to keep going.

“It was a very un-dramatic, sort-of exit. We’re still friends with them.”

When I inquired if this meant that no wedding bells would ring in the near-future for the band mates, I was quickly alerted to keyboardist Kit French’s nuptials, which apparently happened a while ago.

“It’s not for everyone,” French said of the balance between marriage and band life, before Anderson jokingly added, “Kit’s a very mature guy.”

Along with drummer Johnny Stubblefield, Parachute is currently touring behind “Wide Awake,” its fourth LP and first on Vanguard Records. While the label is independent, it’s owned by Concord Bicycle Group, which counts Paul McCartney and the catalog of Frank Sinatra amongst its roster.

Anderson revealed that the band worked primarily with Nathan Chapman on its latest release. Chapman is perhaps best known for his work with Taylor Swift, counting three GRAMMY wins to his credit for “Fearless” and “1989.”

“He was my main go-to,” explained the lead singer. “We talked a lot about this stuff.”

It makes sense given Anderson’s relationship with Swift; back in 2013 he told me the two were “great friends.”

“It’s also fun because she can give me advice on anything our band can possibly be going through; she’s already done it. Even though she’s a little bit younger than us, she’s the biggest artist in the world right now,” Anderson told me during Parachute’s promo run for the band’s third album, “Overnight.”

Do they still keep in touch?

“Distance separates us,” the lead singer said, noting Swift’s New York City apartment and Parachute’s roots in Nashville (although Swift owns property there, along with a slew of other locations). “But she’s great. She’s always been supportive of our band and we love getting advice from her.”

Considering Swift is still one of the biggest artists in the world, who wouldn’t?

Not every Taylor Swift relationship ends with a breakup song. Example: Swift’s friendship with Parachute lead singer Will Anderson.

“I don’t know. I honestly don’t,” Anderson responded on “The Ralphie Show” when asked whether he is the subject of a song on her last album Red. The general consensus among some “Swifties” is that he is the “nice guy” the singer speaks of in “Begin Again.” “We don’t really talk about that stuff… we talk about professional stuff. I’ll ask her advice on things but when it comes to what songs are about, we just let those be.”

Anderson just hung out with the songstress last week.

“It’s fun to hang with somebody who does the same thing you do,” he said. “It’s also fun because she can give me advice on anything our band can possibly be going through; she’s already done it. Even though she’s a little bit younger than us, she’s the biggest artist in the world right now.”

Parachute’s next album, Overnight, is complete and due out August 13. Don’t expect any songs on their about Swift.

“She knows better than that,” Anderson said before joking, “She wishes, but no!”

The album’s current single from that album, “Can’t Help,” was co-written by Anderson and Ryan Tedder.

“We originally had CeeLo Green in mind,” the singer revealed. “We said, ‘We can’t give this one away.’”

Tedder didn’t mind. Meanwhile, Anderson never did get a song to Green, but he’s pretty sure “The Voice” coach is “winning in life, so it’s good.”